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2013-05-08

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Biography information for Nicky Morgan

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To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many non-UK EEA nationals had dependants
eligible to receive child benefit where the dependant is (a) in the UK and (b) outside
the UK on 1 January 2014; and how much has been paid in such a fashion in each of
the last three years.

<p>HMRC are not able to provide the information in the manner requested. HMRC do not
record the nationality of the claimant receiving Child Benefit for children living
in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>Published Child Benefit statistics provide
annual estimates of the number of families and children claiming. The latest available
(August 2012) show that there were 7.92 million families, responsible for 13.77 million
children and qualifying young people receiving Child Benefit.</p><p>The main purpose
of Child Benefit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the rules generally
do not provide for them to be paid in respect of children who live abroad.</p><p>
</p><p>Nevertheless, Child Benefit is a family benefit under EC Regulation 883/2004.
This regulation protects the social security rights of nationals of all member states
of the European economic area, including the UK, and Switzerland when they exercise
their rights of free movement under EU law.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC holds information on
the number of Child Benefit awards under EC Regulation 883/2004. As at 31 December
2013, there were 20,400 ongoing Child Benefit awards under the EC Regulation in respect
of 34.268 children living in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>This is a fall of
3,682 (15.3%) awards in respect of 5,903 (14.7%) fewer children since 31 December
2012.</p><p> </p><p>The breakdown by member state is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>*We
have withheld the number where it is fewer than 5, as there is risk that the information
could be attributed to an identifiable person, which would prejudice their right to
privacy and would therefore be a breach of Principle 1 of the Data Protection Act.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Child Benefit</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Country of residence of children</p></td><td><p>Number
of awards</p></td><td><p>Number of children</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td><p>Austria</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Belgium</p></td><td><p>75</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bulgaria</p></td><td><p>186</p></td><td><p>245</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Croatia</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cyprus</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Czech
Republic</p></td><td><p>124</p></td><td><p>203</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Denmark</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estonia</p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>65</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Finland</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>France</p></td><td><p>789</p></td><td><p>1429</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Germany</p></td><td><p>283</p></td><td><p>495</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greece</p></td><td><p>44</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hungary</p></td><td><p>136</p></td><td><p>196</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Iceland</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Italy</p></td><td><p>156</p></td><td><p>273</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Latvia</p></td><td><p>797</p></td><td><p>1091</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Liechtenstein</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lithuania</p></td><td><p>1215</p></td><td><p>1712</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Luxembourg</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Malta</p></td><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Norway</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Poland</p></td><td><p>13174</p></td><td><p>22093</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portugal</p></td><td><p>202</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Republic
of Ireland</p></td><td><p>1231</p></td><td><p>2505</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Romania</p></td><td><p>230</p></td><td><p>392</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovakia</p></td><td><p>692</p></td><td><p>1232</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovenia</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Spain</p></td><td><p>600</p></td><td><p>1019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sweden</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>95</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Switzerland</p></td><td><p>77</p></td><td><p>150</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The
Netherlands</p></td><td><p>142</p></td><td><p>288</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>
</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Totals</p></td><td><p>20400</p></td><td><p>34268</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As announced in the 2014 Budget, to prevent
EEA migrants claiming benefits they are not entitled to, the Government will increase
compliance checks to establish whether EEA migrants meet the entitlement conditions
to receive Child Benefit</p><p> </p><p>Under domestic law, in order to claim Child
Benefit EEA Migrants must be present in the UK, ordinarily resident and have a right
to reside in the UK and their children must live in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The recent
changes to migrants' access to benefits announced by the Government sends a strong
message that the UK benefit system is not open to abuse, as well as deterring those
who may seek residence in the UK primarily to claim benefits.</p><p>Strengthening
compliance checks will help prevent EEA migrants from claiming, and continuing to
claim, benefits they are not entitled to. Checks will be applied to both new claims
and existing awards.</p><p> </p>

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate by country of residence of the
child he has made of the number of migrants residing in the UK who claimed benefits
on behalf of children living abroad during 2013.

<p>HMRC are not able to provide the information in the manner requested. HMRC do not
record the nationality of the claimant receiving Child Benefit for children living
in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>Published Child Benefit statistics provide
annual estimates of the number of families and children claiming. The latest available
(August 2012) show that there were 7.92 million families, responsible for 13.77 million
children and qualifying young people receiving Child Benefit.</p><p>The main purpose
of Child Benefit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the rules generally
do not provide for them to be paid in respect of children who live abroad.</p><p>
</p><p>Nevertheless, Child Benefit is a family benefit under EC Regulation 883/2004.
This regulation protects the social security rights of nationals of all member states
of the European economic area, including the UK, and Switzerland when they exercise
their rights of free movement under EU law.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC holds information on
the number of Child Benefit awards under EC Regulation 883/2004. As at 31 December
2013, there were 20,400 ongoing Child Benefit awards under the EC Regulation in respect
of 34.268 children living in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>This is a fall of
3,682 (15.3%) awards in respect of 5,903 (14.7%) fewer children since 31 December
2012.</p><p> </p><p>The breakdown by member state is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>*We
have withheld the number where it is fewer than 5, as there is risk that the information
could be attributed to an identifiable person, which would prejudice their right to
privacy and would therefore be a breach of Principle 1 of the Data Protection Act.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Child Benefit</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Country of residence of children</p></td><td><p>Number
of awards</p></td><td><p>Number of children</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td><p>Austria</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Belgium</p></td><td><p>75</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bulgaria</p></td><td><p>186</p></td><td><p>245</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Croatia</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cyprus</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Czech
Republic</p></td><td><p>124</p></td><td><p>203</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Denmark</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estonia</p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>65</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Finland</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>France</p></td><td><p>789</p></td><td><p>1429</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Germany</p></td><td><p>283</p></td><td><p>495</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greece</p></td><td><p>44</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hungary</p></td><td><p>136</p></td><td><p>196</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Iceland</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Italy</p></td><td><p>156</p></td><td><p>273</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Latvia</p></td><td><p>797</p></td><td><p>1091</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Liechtenstein</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lithuania</p></td><td><p>1215</p></td><td><p>1712</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Luxembourg</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Malta</p></td><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Norway</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Poland</p></td><td><p>13174</p></td><td><p>22093</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portugal</p></td><td><p>202</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Republic
of Ireland</p></td><td><p>1231</p></td><td><p>2505</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Romania</p></td><td><p>230</p></td><td><p>392</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovakia</p></td><td><p>692</p></td><td><p>1232</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovenia</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Spain</p></td><td><p>600</p></td><td><p>1019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sweden</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>95</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Switzerland</p></td><td><p>77</p></td><td><p>150</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The
Netherlands</p></td><td><p>142</p></td><td><p>288</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>
</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Totals</p></td><td><p>20400</p></td><td><p>34268</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As announced in the 2014 Budget, to prevent
EEA migrants claiming benefits they are not entitled to, the Government will increase
compliance checks to establish whether EEA migrants meet the entitlement conditions
to receive Child Benefit</p><p> </p><p>Under domestic law, in order to claim Child
Benefit EEA Migrants must be present in the UK, ordinarily resident and have a right
to reside in the UK and their children must live in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The recent
changes to migrants' access to benefits announced by the Government sends a strong
message that the UK benefit system is not open to abuse, as well as deterring those
who may seek residence in the UK primarily to claim benefits.</p><p>Strengthening
compliance checks will help prevent EEA migrants from claiming, and continuing to
claim, benefits they are not entitled to. Checks will be applied to both new claims
and existing awards.</p><p> </p>

<p>HMRC are not able to provide the information in the manner requested. HMRC do not
record the nationality of the claimant receiving Child Benefit for children living
in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>Published Child Benefit statistics provide
annual estimates of the number of families and children claiming. The latest available
(August 2012) show that there were 7.92 million families, responsible for 13.77 million
children and qualifying young people receiving Child Benefit.</p><p>The main purpose
of Child Benefit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the rules generally
do not provide for them to be paid in respect of children who live abroad.</p><p>
</p><p>Nevertheless, Child Benefit is a family benefit under EC Regulation 883/2004.
This regulation protects the social security rights of nationals of all member states
of the European economic area, including the UK, and Switzerland when they exercise
their rights of free movement under EU law.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC holds information on
the number of Child Benefit awards under EC Regulation 883/2004. As at 31 December
2013, there were 20,400 ongoing Child Benefit awards under the EC Regulation in respect
of 34.268 children living in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>This is a fall of
3,682 (15.3%) awards in respect of 5,903 (14.7%) fewer children since 31 December
2012.</p><p> </p><p>The breakdown by member state is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>*We
have withheld the number where it is fewer than 5, as there is risk that the information
could be attributed to an identifiable person, which would prejudice their right to
privacy and would therefore be a breach of Principle 1 of the Data Protection Act.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Child Benefit</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Country of residence of children</p></td><td><p>Number
of awards</p></td><td><p>Number of children</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td><p>Austria</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Belgium</p></td><td><p>75</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bulgaria</p></td><td><p>186</p></td><td><p>245</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Croatia</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cyprus</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Czech
Republic</p></td><td><p>124</p></td><td><p>203</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Denmark</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estonia</p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>65</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Finland</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>France</p></td><td><p>789</p></td><td><p>1429</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Germany</p></td><td><p>283</p></td><td><p>495</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greece</p></td><td><p>44</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hungary</p></td><td><p>136</p></td><td><p>196</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Iceland</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Italy</p></td><td><p>156</p></td><td><p>273</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Latvia</p></td><td><p>797</p></td><td><p>1091</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Liechtenstein</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lithuania</p></td><td><p>1215</p></td><td><p>1712</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Luxembourg</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Malta</p></td><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Norway</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Poland</p></td><td><p>13174</p></td><td><p>22093</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portugal</p></td><td><p>202</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Republic
of Ireland</p></td><td><p>1231</p></td><td><p>2505</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Romania</p></td><td><p>230</p></td><td><p>392</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovakia</p></td><td><p>692</p></td><td><p>1232</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovenia</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Spain</p></td><td><p>600</p></td><td><p>1019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sweden</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>95</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Switzerland</p></td><td><p>77</p></td><td><p>150</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The
Netherlands</p></td><td><p>142</p></td><td><p>288</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>
</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Totals</p></td><td><p>20400</p></td><td><p>34268</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As announced in the 2014 Budget, to prevent
EEA migrants claiming benefits they are not entitled to, the Government will increase
compliance checks to establish whether EEA migrants meet the entitlement conditions
to receive Child Benefit</p><p> </p><p>Under domestic law, in order to claim Child
Benefit EEA Migrants must be present in the UK, ordinarily resident and have a right
to reside in the UK and their children must live in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The recent
changes to migrants' access to benefits announced by the Government sends a strong
message that the UK benefit system is not open to abuse, as well as deterring those
who may seek residence in the UK primarily to claim benefits.</p><p>Strengthening
compliance checks will help prevent EEA migrants from claiming, and continuing to
claim, benefits they are not entitled to. Checks will be applied to both new claims
and existing awards.</p><p> </p>

<p>HMRC are not able to provide the information in the manner requested. HMRC do not
record the nationality of the claimant receiving Child Benefit for children living
in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>Published Child Benefit statistics provide
annual estimates of the number of families and children claiming. The latest available
(August 2012) show that there were 7.92 million families, responsible for 13.77 million
children and qualifying young people receiving Child Benefit.</p><p>The main purpose
of Child Benefit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the rules generally
do not provide for them to be paid in respect of children who live abroad.</p><p>
</p><p>Nevertheless, Child Benefit is a family benefit under EC Regulation 883/2004.
This regulation protects the social security rights of nationals of all member states
of the European economic area, including the UK, and Switzerland when they exercise
their rights of free movement under EU law.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC holds information on
the number of Child Benefit awards under EC Regulation 883/2004. As at 31 December
2013, there were 20,400 ongoing Child Benefit awards under the EC Regulation in respect
of 34.268 children living in another member state.</p><p> </p><p>This is a fall of
3,682 (15.3%) awards in respect of 5,903 (14.7%) fewer children since 31 December
2012.</p><p> </p><p>The breakdown by member state is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>*We
have withheld the number where it is fewer than 5, as there is risk that the information
could be attributed to an identifiable person, which would prejudice their right to
privacy and would therefore be a breach of Principle 1 of the Data Protection Act.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Child Benefit</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Country of residence of children</p></td><td><p>Number
of awards</p></td><td><p>Number of children</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td><p>Austria</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Belgium</p></td><td><p>75</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bulgaria</p></td><td><p>186</p></td><td><p>245</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Croatia</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cyprus</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Czech
Republic</p></td><td><p>124</p></td><td><p>203</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Denmark</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estonia</p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>65</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Finland</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>France</p></td><td><p>789</p></td><td><p>1429</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Germany</p></td><td><p>283</p></td><td><p>495</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greece</p></td><td><p>44</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hungary</p></td><td><p>136</p></td><td><p>196</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Iceland</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td><td><p>*5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Italy</p></td><td><p>156</p></td><td><p>273</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Latvia</p></td><td><p>797</p></td><td><p>1091</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Liechtenstein</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lithuania</p></td><td><p>1215</p></td><td><p>1712</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Luxembourg</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Malta</p></td><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Norway</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Poland</p></td><td><p>13174</p></td><td><p>22093</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portugal</p></td><td><p>202</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Republic
of Ireland</p></td><td><p>1231</p></td><td><p>2505</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Romania</p></td><td><p>230</p></td><td><p>392</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovakia</p></td><td><p>692</p></td><td><p>1232</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Slovenia</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Spain</p></td><td><p>600</p></td><td><p>1019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sweden</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>95</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Switzerland</p></td><td><p>77</p></td><td><p>150</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The
Netherlands</p></td><td><p>142</p></td><td><p>288</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>
</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Totals</p></td><td><p>20400</p></td><td><p>34268</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As announced in the 2014 Budget, to prevent
EEA migrants claiming benefits they are not entitled to, the Government will increase
compliance checks to establish whether EEA migrants meet the entitlement conditions
to receive Child Benefit</p><p> </p><p>Under domestic law, in order to claim Child
Benefit EEA Migrants must be present in the UK, ordinarily resident and have a right
to reside in the UK and their children must live in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The recent
changes to migrants' access to benefits announced by the Government sends a strong
message that the UK benefit system is not open to abuse, as well as deterring those
who may seek residence in the UK primarily to claim benefits.</p><p>Strengthening
compliance checks will help prevent EEA migrants from claiming, and continuing to
claim, benefits they are not entitled to. Checks will be applied to both new claims
and existing awards.</p><p> </p>

<p>Figures are only available for the years 2010-11 and onwards. The number of laundering
plants and millions of litres of fuel seized in those years was as follows.</p><p>
</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Laundering Plants</p></td><td><p>Fuel
(millions litres)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>23 (20 NI 3 GB)</p></td><td><p>2.74</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>29
(NI figure only)</p></td><td><p>2.44</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13 to Dec 13</p></td><td><p>26
(22 NI 4 GB)</p></td><td><p>2.63</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>HMRC fights
fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside
checks to raiding laundering plants. HMRC has also recently concluded the evaluation
of a possible new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it harder to launder marked
fuel and sell it at a profit.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC uses several avenues to tackle fraud:
criminal prosecution, civil action (such as seizing fuel or pumps), civil penalties
and strong regulatory controls.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many awards of tax credits there have been
where the national insurance number of one or more claimants was identifiable as one
issued to a person who was not a UK national at the time of issue of the number in
the latest period for which figures are available; and what the total amount was of
those awards.

<p> </p><p>In March 2013, information was extracted from HMRC's tax credit system
in respect of the number of families claiming tax credits where, if claiming as a
couple, at least one of the family members was recorded as being a non-UK national
when they registered for a National Insurance number.</p><p> </p><p>The extract shows
that as at March 2013, 715,900 such families were claiming tax credits. If we assume
no further changes until the end of the relevant year, the annual tax credits entitlement
of these awards was £4.9 billion. The same extract showed that the total number of
families claiming tax credits was 4,705,100 with an annual entitlement of £29.55 billion.</p><p>
</p><p>For this purpose, as nationality was based on nationality at the time a claimant
first registered for a National Insurance Number (NINO)the nationality of some of
those claimants may have since changed. The information is not therefore sufficiently
reliable to be used for formal statistical purposes.</p><p> </p><p>Based on this information
the numbers of non-UK nationals claiming Tax Credits as a percentage of the entire
Tax Credits population are broadly in line with the percentage of non-UK nationals
in the UK workforce (according to figures in the 2013 Labour Force Survey complied
by the ONS).</p><p> </p>

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of whether changes
made to child benefit legislation since May 2010 have resulted in unfair tax burdens
falling on people who are living with a partner who has his or her own children in
the household.

<p>Child Benefit is paid for the welfare of the child/children in the household. If
any partner in the household has income over £50,000 then they are required to register
for the Higher Income Child Benefit Charge regardless of whether or not they are the
biological parent.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This approach withdraws Child Benefit from
those on high incomes, whilst leaving the majority of claimants completely unaffected
by the changes. Those families with at least one taxpayer with an income over £60,000
can choose not to receive the Child Benefit, which means that they do not have to
pay the tax charge at all.</p>

<p>The IFS state that “there have been very significant falls in real earnings as
a direct but delayed result of the 2008 recession, essentially”.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The
government has taken continued action to help hardworking families, including raising
the personal allowance, which will take over 3.2m individuals out of income tax altogether
by 2015/16, as well as freezing fuel duty, council tax and reducing household energy
bills. The best way to improve people's living standards is to boost productivity
and jobs, and the labour market has continued to strengthen with record numbers of
people in work.</p>

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to ensure that
parents use their tax-free childcare accounts to pay for childcare; and what additional
costs such checks will place on HM Revenue and Customs.

<p>Parents' payments from their Tax-Free Childcare accounts will only go to registered
childcare providers. HMRC will investigate in the exceptional circumstances where
it suspects the payments were not used for childcare. The Childcare Payments Bill
sets out HMRC's proposed compliance powers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The administration
costs of the scheme will be settled once the scheme's design has been finalised.</p>

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the level
of growth in the UK economy in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015; and what change in the level
of public sector employment he anticipates will take place in each region and constituent
part of the UK in that time.

<p>The OBR is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts
of the UK economy. The OBR's most recent forecast (published at Budget 2014) is for
UK GDP to grow by 2.7 per cent this year and 2.3 per cent in 2015.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>The OBR forecast general government employment will fall by 0.1 million in
2014 and 2015. This is more than offset by increases in market sector employment of
0.5 million in 2014 and 0.3 million in 2015.</p>